AU's Faculty Senate votes 'no confidence' in president

Saturday

ASHLAND — Ashland University’s educators are making it clear they’re unhappy with University President Carlos Campo.

In a 34-1 vote during a special meeting on Friday, the Faculty Senate said it had “no confidence” in Campo’s performance.

Campo has “repeatedly demonstrated an inability or unwillingness to collaborate with the Faculty, communicate with the Faculty, or foster an atmosphere of trust and respect,” Senate President Diane Bonfiglio said in an email to full-time faculty.

The email also said the group requested the Board of Trustees begin a search for new executive leadership. The no-confidence vote was taken in a closed-door meeting via Zoom.

Campo said in an email statement he learned of the vote Friday evening and that he did not "have enough context to comment at this time."

"I can say that this vote will not deter me or our leadership team from our ongoing efforts to listen thoughtfully to the range of views being expressed by members of the faculty and to work collegially and constructively with them to address the important economic and academic matters facing Ashland University," he said in the email.

Ashland University spokeswoman Tami Mosser said the trustees have not had time to review faculty concerns and will release a statement in the next few days.

The vote came after Bonfiglio sent an email to faculty that included a report of the May Board of Trustees meeting. Bonfiglio addressed six issues, including a motion being considered by the board that would result in cutting a number of academic programs.

A Sunsetting Task Force has been established to identify 25 academic programs to keep. According to the university’s website, Ashland now features more than 70 undergraduate programs.

According to a recap of the Ashland University Board of Trustees meeting sent to Senate members by Bonfiglio, the motion was amended to remove the cap of 25 programs. The amendment also requires Academic Affairs and the provost to present detailed financial analysis and justification if the plan proposes keeping more than 30 programs. The elimination of academic programs should be completed this summer.

In November, the university projected a $1.6 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year ending May 31. A spending and non-essential hiring freeze was put in place for the rest of the fiscal year.

Earlier this month, The Times-Gazette reported the university lost at least $4.4 million in revenue because of the virus. Mosser told The Times-Gazette the loss of income was a combination of room and board refunds to students and other auxiliary revenue lost such as the cancellation of conferences and private lessons.

Messages left with Bonfiglio were not immediately returned.

The university is not the only Ohio college taking similar action against its leadership. On May 4, Ohio University’s Faculty Senate approved a vote of no confidence in OU President Duane Nellis and Vice President for Finance Deborah Shaffer. The faculty group accused them of leading the university to a budget crisis made much worse by the coronavirus pandemic.

Across Ohio, colleges, including University of Akron, have been slashing budgets because of the pandemic.

—Reach Samantha at 330-287-1626 or Samantha.Ickes@the-daily-record.com. Follow her on Twitter: @SamanthaKIckes.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.